Pliers with adjustable toothed pivot for engaging rack slots



J. EIFEL PLIERS WITH ADJUSTABLE TOOTHED PIVOT FOR ENGAGING RACK SLOTS Dec. 20, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 13 195] I72 venzar Jase 972 Fife? m .flfzarneys Dec. 20, 1955 E F 2,727,417

J. l PLIERS WITH ADJUSTABLE TOOTHED PIVOT FOR ENGAGING RACK SLOTS Filed Oct. 13, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 20, 1955 .1. EIFEL PLIERS WITH ADJUSTABLE TOOTHED PIVOT FOR ENGAGING RACK SLOTS 3 SheetsSheet 5 Filed Oct. 15, 1951 United States Patent PLIERS WITH ADJUSTABLE TOOTHEDTIV OT FOR ENGAGING RACK SLOTS Joseph Eifel, Chicago, Ill.

Application October 13, 1951, Serial No. 251,155

13 Claims. (Cl. 8151.3)

This invention relates to a pliers, and is generally embodied in the construction shown in which a pair or" main pliers members is provided with pivot means so arranged that the two main pliers members may be adjusted with respect to each other to vary the spacing of the jaw portions to adapt the device for use in connection with work pieces of different sizes.

One of the objects of the invention, therefore, is to provide a pliers construction so arranged that the two main pivotally mounted members of the pliers may be readily adjusted laterally with respect to each other in a plurality of operative or work positions.

Another object is to provide a sufiicient number of operative or work positions to give parallel and nearparallel grips of the jaw-faces on work pieces of different sizes within the range of the pliers.

Other objects will appear from time to time throughout the specification and claims.

This invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of the device with parts omitted.

Figure 2 is a plan view, on an enlarged scale, of the pivot latch member omitted from Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional detail taken at line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the intermediate or pivot portion of one of the pliers members.

Figure 5 is a similar view of the other plier member.

Figure 6 is a similar fragmentary plan view of the two pliers members positioned together with the pivot member in position.

Figures 4, 5 and 6 are drawn to the same scale.

Figure 7 is a. side elevation of one suitable form of jaw member.

Figure 8 is a section taken on an enlarged scale at line 38 of Figure 1.

Figure 9 is a side elevation of the two pliers members generally similar to Figure 6 but illustrating the pliers members and the pivot member in a position for adjustment of the two pliers members.

Figure 10 is a plan view generally simiiar to Figure 4, illustrating a modified form of one plier member.

Figure 11 is a diagrammatic showing, on a still further enlarged scale, of the rack members forming the pivotal parts the pliers and showing the pivot member in position engaging the racks.

Figure 12 is an elevation showing a part of Figure l, with the latch member in place.

Figure 13 is a plan view showing a modified formof the pliers members in which the jaw portions have been modified to provide means for internally holdingor exanding work pieces; and

Figure 14 is a side elevation of the form of this device shown in Figure 13.

Like parts are indicated by like characters throughout the specification and the drawings.

As shown in the first twelve figures, the device co'rnprises generally a pliers formed of a pair of main pliers members, each of which has a handle portion, a jaw or gripping. portion and a pivot portion.

The device, as illustrated, comprises, therefore, the two main pliers members 1 and 2, which have handle portions 3, 4 respectively and jaw portions 5, 6 respectively. The jaw portions are roughened as at 7, 8. The pliers portion 2 is provided with an intermediate pivot portion 9 and pliers portion 1 is provided with a pivot portion 10.. The portion 9 is cut out as at 11 (see Figure 4), and within the space 11 are formed inwardly projecting teeth 12 and an oppositely spaced series of ridges 13. The. pivot. portion 10 is cut away as at 14 (see Figure 5), and is provided within said cut away portion with teeth 15 and oppositely spaced ridges.

When the two main members are assembled for use as. shown in Figures 1 and 6 they lie in contact with each other and the teeth 12 are adjacent to the bottom of the space formed by the two cut away parts 11 and 14, and the teeth 15 are adjacent to the top of that space. There is positioned within the total cut away space thus formed by the two cut away spaces parts 11 and 14 a pivot member 17. This member is provided with axial end portions 18 and 19 and carries or has integrally formed with it two pairs of diametrically opposed teeth. Gne pair of teeth is indicated in detail in Figure 11 and comprises the teeth 20, 20a which are positioned equally distant from the center of the member 19. Adjacent each of the teeth 20 and 20a is a depression 263' which has a radius substantially equal to the radius of the adjacent face of the teeth 12 and 15. The other pair of teeth comprises the portions 21, 21a which are positioned equally distant. from the center of the member '19 and extend farther outward from that center than do the teeth 2' 1 20a.

As illustrated in Figures 6 and 11, in particular, the teeth are so shaped that both a long tooth and short teeth may be in engagement with the teeth of each of the rack portions at the same time. However, they may also be out of engagement with the rack teeth when the pivot is moved to a position for adjustment, as shown in Fig ure 9.

The longer teeth 21 and 21a prevent clockwise rotation of the pivot member 17 with respect to the racks from the position shown in Figure 11 but permit counterclockwise rotation to the position shown in Figure 9.

As shown in Figures 4 and 5, each of the slots, or cut away parts 11 and 14, has at one end a clearance space having a guiding edge 22, joined by an arc to a second guiding edge 23. Each cut away part or slot 11 and 14 has at its opposite end a guiding edge 24 tangent to a tooth space and joined at a reverse angle to the edge along which the ridges 13 to 16 are formed. The pliers member 2 is provided on one surface adjacent its cut away portion 11 with a plurality of depressions 28. These depressions 28 are for engagement with a detent member 29. By means of the engagement of the member 29 in one or another of the depressions 28 the position of the pivot member 17 may be adjusted and held in any adjusted position.

The member 29 is shaped to interfit with and penetrate into a depression 28. A spring arm 30 overlies the member 29. This arm is fixed to the end 19 of the pivot member 17. As shown, particularly in Figure 11, the end'19 of .the pivot member 17 is provided with noncircular portion 31, 31. An adjusting arm 32 is fitted over the portions 31 of the member 17 and is enlarged as shown particularly in Figure 2 to embrace this member and to overlie the adjacent surface of the portion 9 of theplier member 12.

The spring arm 30 overlies the rigid arm 32 as shown in Figures'2 and'3. A washer 33 is attached by a screw 34 to the member 17 and holds the parts in the assembled of which the member 35 may be adjusted to make the engagement of the member 29 with the depression more or less positive. The nut and bolt 36 thus adjust the springs 30 and 35. The main pliers members are held in operative relation by the pivot member 17 and the washers 33 and 33 which are retained in place by any suitable attachment to the pivot member 17.

The detent member 29 penetrates through the opening 37 in the arm 32. One end of the spring arm 30 rests upon the flanged end of the member 29 and is stressed to hold the engaging or detent member 29 in engagement with one or another of the depressions 28 into which it may penetrate.

Obviously the members 28 and 29 might be reversed. They might have any shape and almost any location so long as the two of them cooperate to interfit and to act as a means for retaining the pivot member 17 in any desired position of adjustment.

For some purposes, it is convenient to provide means for holding the pliers members in a gripping position, when, for example, they have been moved to engage a work piece and the operator wishes to free one of his hands, or both of his hands for other purposes. The structure is shown generally in Figure 1 and in detail in Figure 8. As there shown, each handle portion 3 and 4 is provided with a bifurcated end portion 38, forming a slot which is wider at its inner end. I

A retaining screw 39 is positioned between the members 3 and 4 and extends laterally beyond each of them. A thumb nut 40 is positioned at each end of the member 39 and the thumb nut may be provided with and have associated with it a sleeve 41 which, as shown particularly in Figure 8, overlies the threaded portion of the member 39 and provides an enlarged portion to prevent the screw 39 from leaving the slot unless the sleeve 41 is withdrawn laterally.

Another means for joining these parts together might be used. This is illustrated in the particular form shown merely to indicate that the applicant contemplates the provision of such members.

As shown in Figure 7, the roughening of the inner or working surfaces of the members and 6 is shown on an enlarged scale. From this drawing it is evident that this roughening or narrowing is of the same construction on both members 5 and 6 but it is so interspaced that the major portion of the corresponding parts do not contact or lie opposite each other.

Considering first the member 5 as shown in Figure 7, there are pairs of ridges or peaks 42, 42. These are separated by V-shaped depressions or spaces 43, 43. The ridges 42, 42 may be graduated as to size and may be reduced progressively or otherwise from the inner end of the jaw to the outer end as shown in Figure 7. Between each pair of ridges 42 is a wider depression or groove 44. This latter is of approximately the same depth as the depression or groove 43, but is formed by two angles which meet each at an angle to the other, and the width of the depressions 44 is greater than that of the depres sions 43. As stated above, the roughening on the members 5 and 6 is so arranged that it fits together in such a manner that the peaks or raised portions 42 of the jaw 6 lie opposite depressions 44 in the jaw 5.

Correspondingly, the members 42 of the jaw 5 lie op posite the larger depressions 44 of the jaw 6. The gripping faces of the jaw portions in which the members 42, 43 and 44 are formed are arranged in .eifect to provide a plurality of V-shapes. The teeth and spaces of one jaw face alternate with those of the other jaw face thereby providing staggered multi-point transverse edge grips to engage work pieces having parallel surfaces. This construction also provides an eflfective gripping arrangement to engage the opposite corners of threaded nuts for turning the same in cramped or diflicult places with a ratchetlike wrench action when hand pressure on the said handle portions may be alternately applied and released.

The modified form of pivot slot arrangement shown in Figure 10 may be used instead of the form shown in Figure 4. As shown in Figure 10, a short cut away portion 45 is indicated instead of the relatively longer cut away portion 11 and 14 of the earlier figures.

This is formed in a pivot portion 46 of a pliers member which may be similar to the pivot portion 9 of the pliers member 2 as shown in Figure 4. Instead of the rack of teeth shown in the earlier figures, a single tooth 47 in a cut away clearance space is shown. This tooth can engage the pivot gear 17 shown in the other figures and the tooth 47 corresponds incfiect to the tooth shown at the right hand end of the rack shown in Figure 4, and the clearance space provides for a counterclockwise rotation of the pivot member 17, for lateral adjustment of the pliers members with respect to each other.

In the modified form of figures 13 and 14 the structure is generally the same as that shown in Figure l, the main difference being that the jaw portions 5 and 6 are disposed on the side of the pivot portions 9' and 10' respectively nearest the corresponding handle portions. The roughened work. gripping surfaces are moved to face outwardly, in its modified form, to be used primarily for expanding articles or for gripping them from within. One other diiference exists. One pliers member is bifurcated to embrace the other pliers member. Since the parts are, in each form, substantially the same, similar reference numerals are used on corresponding parts in both forms of the device. In the form of Figures '13 and 14 however, prime numerals are used. The parts are, therefore, not redescribed.

The structure shown in the several forms is an operative structure and the details are suitable. Substantial variation from the details shown may be made however without departing from the spirit of my invention and the invention is not to be limited to the specific details shown. In general however the invention embodied will comprise a pair of pliers members each having handle portions and flattened pivot portions 9 and 10, within which are formed openings provided with a tooth or with teeth. The openings are of such size and shape as to engage the pivot member 17.

The operation will be described below. The openings in which the pivot member 17 ispositioned also contain the portions 13 and 16 which comprise as shown ridges. The purpose of the ridges 13 and 16 is to minimize the back lash of the pliers when engaged with a work piece, and they serve also to help guide the pivot member into and out of engagement with the teeth 12 and 15. The ridges 13 and 16 being disposed oppositely to the crests of the teeth 12 and 15,-respectively, serve to restrict longitudinal movement of the members 9 and 10 with respect to one another, thus minimizing the tendency of the members 9 and 10 to move in longitudinal directions with respect to one another when a workpiece is engaged. The surfaces between the ridges 13 and 16 are arcuately formed to allow rotation of the teeth of the member 17 during rotation of the member 17. The portions 23, one of which is positioned in each of the openings or slots 11 and 14 adjacent the teeth 12 and 15, act as guiding edges and are joined by an arc to the obliquely positioned guiding edges 22. Each of the slots or openings 11 and 14 has also the oppositely placed guiding edge 24 which is positioned tangent to a tooth space. The guiding edges 22, 23 and 24 serve to guide the pivot teeth of the pivot member 17 into and out of engagement with the end rack teeth 12 or 15 and space adjacent them when the device is so adjusted that the pivot member 17 is at one or the other end of one of the openings or slots 11 and 14.

Generally, the purpose'of the teeth 12' and 15 and the purpose of their association with the pivot member 17 is to permit a wide range of adjustment of pliers portions so that the jaws 5 and 6 maybe adjusted toward and from each other to accommodate work pieces of Varying sizes. The upper tooth 20a of the pivot member 17 acts as a pivot for relative rotation of the pliers members when clockwise rotation of the pivot member 17 is blocked by the longer teeth 21 under work pressure. The blocking action of the longer teeth 21 and 21a minimizes the force necessary to hold the pivot member 17 locked to the member 2. The pivot member is' also so shaped as to limit its counter clockwise rotation with respect to openings 11 and 14, to substantially the position shown in Figure 9. When the pivot member 17 moves unitarily with the member 2, i. e. when the arm 32 is engaged, the plier members 9 and 10 may be rotated about the tip of tooth 20a as a pivot, the teeth 21:: and 20a moving into and out of engagement with the teeth 15. However, when the plier members 9 and 10 are moved in opposite lateral directions, toward one another, the pivot member 17 may rotate in a counterclockwise direction as seen in Figure 11 and the teeth 20, 20a, 21 and 21:: start moving out of engagement with the teeth 12 and 15. Lateral movement of the members 9' and 10 away from one another tends to cause clockwise rotation of the pivot member 17, which rotation is limited by the longer teeth 21, 21a.

During lateral movement of the members 9 and 10, sufiicient force is exerted to cause the spring-biased d'etent 29 to slip out of engagement with the depression 28, thus allowing rotation of the pivot member 17 with respect to the members 9 and 10.

The teeth 21, 21a act as a blocking or stopping teeth and limit rotation of the member 17 in aclockwise direction as shown generally in the figures and as shown enlarged in Figure ll. The pivot member may be moved to either end of each of the slots or openings 11 and 14 or to any intermediate position. As shown generally in the figures, it engages a tooth in each slot which is positioned one away from the end of each slot. As shown particularly in Figure 11, the direction of the thrust of the rack during use of the pliers is illustrated. This diagram shows that the thrust tends to move the pivot member in clockwise direction as seen in Figure 11 and it is when this thrust occurs that the blocking or stopping teeth 21 and 21a limit that movement and hence limit rotation of the pivot member in the clockwise direction. The pivot member itself may be rotated by means of the arm 32. This rotation is effective to permit adjustment of the position of the pivot member with respect to each of the pliers members, and the members 1 and 2 with respect to each other.

When the arm 32 is in the position shown generally in Figures 2, 3 and 12, the pivot member 17 'is in the position shown in all of the figures except Figure 9. This is the pivot position and in that position the tooth 20a acts as a pivot for the pliers members. It may be moved from that position to the position of adjustment as shown in Figure 9 by rotation of the member 32. This rotation is accomplished by moving the arm 32, as a handle, to force the member 29 out of and past depression 28 to rotate the pivot member 17 to the position of Figure 9. When it lies in that position, relative movement of the pivot memher with respect to the pliers members and relative movement of the two pliers members with respect to each other is possible. When the parts have been moved into a desired position of adjustment, the arm 32 is moved to bring the pivot member 17 again to the pivot position, and in that position preferably one of the depressions 28 is engaged by the member 29 and the pivot is thus retained in adjusted position until readjustment is desired.

The particular means for moving and rotating the pivot member 17 might be varied substantially and the shape of the pivot member itself may be varied. The two oppositely placed teeth 20 and 20a as shown in Figure 11 lie in a plane inclined upwardly and to the right of a vertical plane through the axis of rotation of the pivot member 17 by approximately 20 degrees.

The teeth 21 and 21a extend farther from the center of the member 17 than do the teeth 20 and 20a and they preferably lie in a plane inclined upwardly andto the left of a vertical plane drawn through the axis of rotation of the member 17. In this case, the degree of inclination of the teeth 20 from the vertical is approximately 45 degrees.

The angular relation of the pairs of teeth 20 and 20a and 21 and 21a and their size may be variedsubstantially without departing from the invention. The teeth 20 and 2022 are in effect pinion teeth and the teeth 21 and 21a are in effect blocking or stopping teeth to limit clockwise rotation of the member 17.

The pivot member, however, may rotate approximately degrees in a counterclockwise direction if the pivot portions 9 and 10 of the plier members are free to move horizontally. Thus the pivot member in the position of Figure ll does not limit rotation of the plier members in a counterclockwise direction. That is to say, in a direction opposite the thrust indication of Figure 11. It does however limit clockwise rotation, which is to say movement in the direction of the thrust indications of Figure 11.

The moving arm 32, which may be considered as a handie for rotating and moving the pivot member 17, normally holds the pivot member 17 in position with respect to the plier member 2. It is on this member that the depression 28 are formed into which the member 29penetrates and thus the pivot member is normally, in any adjusted position, held against relative movement with respect to the plier member 2. When that member moves, the pivot member being held against movement with respect to it moves with it and thus when the plier member 2- moves from the position of Figure 2 it tends to carry with it, in an equal degree of rotation, the pivot member17'. This movement may within the dimensions of the parts occur freely in a counter clockwise rotation of the handle portion 4 from the position of Figure 1 for example.

Although the tooth arrangement andthe shape of the teeth shown is satisfactory, the invention is not limited to the shape and arrangement of teeth shown. Figure 11- illustrates the fact probably not clearly visible in the smaller figures that the teeth 12 and 15 are not conventional gear teeth. The teeth 12 are of the sameform as the teeth 15. These teeth are however not symmetrical. As shown particularly in the teeth 12 engaged between the teeth 20 and 21 of the pivot member 17, the work face of the teeth so engaged, which teeth are identical with the other teeth, is shown to be in engagement with the work face of teeth 20 and 20a butout of engagement with a portion of the teeth 21 and 21a. This is due to the fact that the radius of the curvature away from the work face is greater than the radius of the Work face.

The space between each tooth 21 and the adjacent tooth 20, or the space between tooth 20a and tooth 21a, as the case may be, where they most closely approach each other, is cylindrical. The working faces of the teeth 20, 20a and 21 and 2161 are cylindrical. Adjacent each tooth 20 and 20a is a concave depression 20' which may act as a shift space cooperating with a tooth 12 or 15 in guiding the pivot member 17 from the position of Figure 11 to that of Figure 9 and return. Whatever the precise formation and designation of the rack teeth 12 and 15 and of the teeth 20, 20a, 21a and 21 on the pivot member 17, the shapes and dimensions of the parts are such that when the pivot member 17 is engaged to the plier member 2 and held against relative movement with respect to that member, and when the jaws are in engagement with a work piece and are pressed against that work piece, the pivot member 17 acts to permit relative rotation of the pliers members 1 and 2 and it is held not only by the adjusting member 32 against displacement but it is held against clockwise movement by the blocking teeth 21. The pliers member 1 however may rotate about the tooth 20a of pivot member 17 to bring gripping pressure upon the work piece.

If the adjustment of the pivot member within the slots 11 and 14 is proper to provide a suitable spacing of the .jaws 5 and 6 for the dimension of the particular Work piece to be engaged, the jaws will apply a grip on the work piece in substantial or actual parallelism and will grip the work piece ettectively.

If the particular adjustment of the pivot member is not satisfactory for a work piece of another size, adjustment is made. Obviously the pivot member 17 may engage any of the teeth 12 or 15 in either of the pivot portions and the adjustment which is made from time to time is made in relation to the size of the work piece which is to be engaged.

During the Work-performing operation of the tool, the members 9 and 10 are rotated with respect to one another. When it is desired to adjust the plier members, the members are moved in a lateral direction and in a longitudinal direction. Thus three movements are involved; relative rotational movement for the work-performing operation, and both relative lateral and longitudinal movement for the adjusting operation.

The adjustment of the pivot relationship is accomplished when no work piece is engaged and is carried out as follows: If the parts are considered to lie in position of Figure 11 which is substantially the position of the smaller Figures 1, 6 and 12 or the operative position, the parts 1 and 2 are moved with respect to each other not primarily in rotation but in relative lateral and longitudinal movement. As shown in Figure 11, adjustment may be effected without moving the arm 32 by direct action by moving pivot parts 9 and 10 first laterally of each other to release the detent 29. Then pivot parts 9 and 10 are moved longitudinally of each other to cause the pivot member 17 to move to the position of Figure 9 in which the portions 13 are approximately at the lower ends of the teeth 15 and the portions 16 are approximately at the upper end of the teeth 12, thus with the parts in this position a space is provided for free movement of the pivot member 17 and the parts 9 and 10 are freed for relative movement for adjustment. During such longitudinal movement, the arcuate surfaces between ridges 13 and 16 contact the teeth of the pivot member 17 and force the pivot member 17 into the position shown in Figure 9.

To return the parts to the adjusted pivotal position of Figure 11, the pivot parts 9 and 10 are moved longitudinally in a reverse direction for engaging the teeth 12 and 15 with the depressions 20. In this position movement of pivot part 9 and pivot part 10 will cause pivot member 17 to rotate clockwise into the pivot position of Figure 11 and cause or permit the detent 29 to engage a depression 28, as shown in Figure 12. In the modified form of Figures 13 and 14 the methods of adjustment are the'same as those described for the form of the earlier figures, and no further description of this adjustment is necessary. When the handles 1' and 2 are moved toward each other, the parts 5 and 6' with the roughened faces 7 and 8' move past and away from each other, from their initial position. This form of the device is primarily useful for internally gripping or for expanding work pieces or other members.

I claim:

1. In combination in a pliers, a pair of pliers members, each including a handle portion and a jaw portion and an intermediate pivot portion, a. toothed pivot member having at least two pairs of teeth engaging each with cooperating toothed members on said pivot portions, means for positioning said pivot member in a given position, and for moving it therefrom, the pivot member being effective in one position of adjustment to establish a pivot for said pliers members with respect to each other and being efiective' in another position of adjustment to free said pliers members for relative lateral movement, and means for holding said pivot member in said first named position.

2. In combination in a pliers, a pair of pliers members, each including a handle -portion and a jawportion and an intermediate pivot portion, a pivot member engaging each of said pivot portions, means for positioning said pivot member in a given position, and for moving it therefrom, the pivot member being effective in one position of adjustment to establish a pivot for said pliers members with respect to each other and being effective in another position of adjustment to free said pliers members for relative lateral movement, said pivot portion of each pliers member comprising a rack, the rack of one pivot portion being placed opposite the rack of the other pivot portion, said pivot member comprising two pairs of diametrically arranged rack-engaging tooth members, the tooth members of one pair being longer than the tooth members of the other pair, and means for holding said pivot member in said first named position.

3. In combination in a pliers, a pair of main pliers members, each including a handle portion and a jaw portion and each shaped with a rack portion, the rack portion of one member being positioned oppositely to the rack portion of the other member when the two members are assembled for use, and a pivot member interposed between said rack portions and provided with pairs of projectionsto engage said rack portions when in one rotative position, and means for rotating and moving said pivot member to disengage its projections from said racks, said pivot member and said racks comprising together a pivot means for said main members and means for retaining said pivot member in one of a plurality of pre-determined positions of adjustment with respect to said members.

4. In combination in a pliers, a pair of main pliers members, each including a handle portion and a jaw portion and each shaped with a rack portion, the rack portion of one member being positioned oppositely to the rack portion of the other member when the two members are assembled for use, and a pivot member interposed between said rack portions and provided with pairs of projections to engage said rack portions when in one rotative position, and means for rotating and moving said pivot member to disengage its projections from said racks, said pivot member and said racks comprising together a pivot means for said main members and means yieldable to pressures exerted on the jaw portions in directions opposite to the work pressure for disengaging said pivot member and normally effective when squeezing said handle portions to retain said pivot member in one of a plurality of predetermined working positions of adjustment with respect to said members.

5. In combination in a pliers, a pair of pliers members each having a handle portion and a jaw portion and each shaped intermediate said handle and said jaw portion to provide a pivot assembly, said pivot assembly including a pair of oppositely placed rack portions, one" on each of said members, said rack portions extending generally transversely with respect to the main longitu-j dinal axis of said members, and a pivot part positioned between and to engage both of said racks, said pivot part including pairs of oppositely placed rack engaging mem bers of different sizes, and means for rotating said pivo part to bring its rack-engaging parts intoandout f, en gagement of said racks wherebythe position? K ot member with respect to said racks mayj lbe. e d, an selective means for positioning said rack-engaging member against accidental displacement with respect to said racks.

6. In combination in a pliers, a pair of main pliers members, each main member including a handle portion and a jaw portion, and including means formed in part on each member cooperating to provide a fulcrum space whereby said members may pivot about a fulcrum shiftableat will, said jaw portions being provided each 9 with a row of inwardly directed projections, the row of projections on one member being positioned opposite the row of projections on the (ther member, and a pivot member positioned within said space, said pivot member provided with pairs of teeth having different lengths and engaging said projections, the major dimension of the pivot member being of lesser dimension than the major dimension of the space and means for shifting said pivot member along said space to vary the relative position of said members with respect to each other, and means for holding said teeth in opposite engagement with said projections.

7. In combination in a pliers, a pair of pliers members, each member including a handle portion and a jaw portion, each member being shaped to provide within itself a closed oblong opening, each opening having along one wall a plurality of similarly shaped and regularly spaced projections, the projections of one side facing toward the projections of the other opening, a pivot member having a major dimension of less than the length of said opening and positioned therein, said pivot member being provided with spaced pairs of projections, the projections of said pivot member being adapted to be engaged with the projections formed in said openings, means for normally holding said projections of said pivot member in engagement with the projections formed in said openings, and means for disengaging said pivot member from said pliers members to free said pliers members for relative shifting movement.

8. In combination in a pliers, a pair of main members each including a jaw portion and a handle portion, and each including a pivot area defined within an enclosed transverse opening, said transverse openings of the two members being positioned substantially to overlie each other, and each opening including a generally plane side and a generally toothed rack, said toothed racks being placed oppositely with respect to each other, a movable pivotal member positioned within the two openings and comprising pairs of teeth; a short pair and a relatively longer pair, the teeth of each pair being adapted to engage the teeth of one of the racks, means for rotating the pivotal member and for moving it along the openings, and means for normally holding said pairs of teeth in operative engagement with said racks.

9. In combination in a pliers, a pair of relatively pivoted members, each including an enclosed opening, each of said openings having formed within it a plurality of teeth, the teeth of each opening being opposite those of the other opening, a toothed pivotal member movably positioned within each opening and engaging both sets of teeth, means for moving said pivotal member relalatively to each set of teeth within both openings, said pivotal member having teeth shaped in pairs of difierent lengths; shorter and longer, the shorter teeth comprising fulcrum portions and the longer teeth comprising blocking portions, and means for normally holding said pivotal member in operative position with the teeth thereof engaged with the teeth in said openings, and means associated with said pivotal member for rotating said member to move its teeth out of engagement with the first-mentioned sets of teeth and for moving the said pivotal member to bring its teeth into engagement with other of said first-mentioned sets of teeth.

10. In combination in a pliers, two main members each including a jaw portion, a handle portion and a pivot portion, each said pivot portion having therethrough a flanged pivot member holding said main members in any of a plurality of operative relationships and each said pivot portion having a transverse toother rack contiguous to said pivot member, said racks being on opposite sides of the axis of said pivot member, said pivot member including pairs of diametrally opposite teeth meshing with said racks, the length of one pair being longer than the width of the space between said racks, and limiting rotary movement in the direction of work pressure applications, the other pair providing a fixed pivot and fulcrum for rotary movement of one said main member relatively the other said main member, and selective means for positioning said pivot member against accidental displacement with respect to said racks.

11. In combination in a pliers, a pair of main pliers members, each including a handle portion and a jaw portion and each shaped with a rack portion between the other two portions, the rack portion of one member being positioned oppositely to the rack portion of the other member when the two members are assembled for use, and a pivot member interposed between said rack portions and provided with pairs of projections adapted to engage said rack portions when in one rotative position, and means for rotating and moving said pivot member to disengage its projections from said racks, said pivot member and said racks comprising together a pivot means for said main members, and yielding means including a detent supported on said pivot member and shaped to engage any one of a plurality of engaging conformations in one of said main pliers members for retaining said pivot member in one of a plurality of predetermined positions of adjustment with respect to said members.

12. In combination, a pair of tool members each having a handle portion and a jaw portion and each shaped intermediate said handle and said jaw portion to provide a pivot assembly, said pivot assembly including a pair of oppositely placed rack portions, one in each of said members, said rack portions extending generally transversely with respect to the main longitudinal axis of said members, and a pivot part positioned between and to engage both of said racks, said pivot part including toothed members engageable with said racks, said part having two teeth of different lengths engaging one of said racks, and means for rotating said pivot part to bring its rack-engaging parts into and out of engagement with said racks whereby the position of the pivot member with respect to said racks may be varied, and selective means for positioning said rack-engaging member against accidental displacement with respect to said racks.

13. The structure of claim 12 characterized by and including jaw portions having opposed gripping faces, each face having transverse gripping ridges arranged in pairs with a relatively small V-shape between each tooth pair, and having a relatively wider space between adjacent pairs of teeth, the said pairs of teeth in one of said jaw faces being substantially centered with the said spaces between the pairs of teeth in the opposite jaw face, thereby providing a 3-point grip in certain first positions of work pleces and a 4-point grip in certain second positions of work pieces and providing for wrench V-grips and hook grips on the corners of threaded nuts and the like.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 528,756 Amundsen Nov. 6, 1894 637,251 Hamilton Nov. 21, 1899 1,122,165 Schoening Dec. 22, 1914 1,540,745 Bain June 9, 1925 1,546,139 Leneque July 14, 1925 1,772,224 Peterson Aug. 5, 1930 1,818,869 Reede Aug. 11, 1931 1,867,505 Graner July 12, 1932 2,483,380 Duffy Sept. 27, 1949 

